Written Answers

Tuesday 21 March 2000

Scottish Executive

Cochlear Implantation Services

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish outreach centres around Scotland in order that the services provided by the National Cochlea Implant Centre at Crosshouse Hospital in Ayrshire can be more easily accessed by patients from outwith the immediate area of the hospital.

Susan Deacon: I refer Ms Ullrich to my answer of 9 February 2000 to Mrs Margaret Jamieson (S1W–737) announcing additional funding of £150,000 to support outreach cochlear implantation services across Scotland. There are no plans at present to establish outreach centres.

Contraception

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new emergency contraceptive Levonelle will be made available throughout Scotland.

Susan Deacon: Levonelle-2, was launched in the UK in February 2000 and is available throughout Scotland but only on prescription.

  The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is currently considering an application to re-classify Levonelle-2 from prescription-only to pharmacy availability, so that it can be obtained from a pharmacy without prescription. Careful consideration will be given to the risks and benefits on the basis of a thorough evaluation of evidence, to ensure safe use without medical supervision. Expert advice will be sought from the Committee on Safety of Medicines, and there will be a period of public consultation before the MCA reaches a decision.

Environment

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it contributed to Her Majesty's Government’s representations to the European Commission in connection with the White Paper being prepared by the Commission on environmental liability, and whether it will publish any representations or comments it has made.

Sarah Boyack: Yes, the Executive did make representations and, in common with normal practice, it respects the confidentiality of the information exchanged.

First Minister's Office Costs

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to list the costs associated with the running of the office of the First Minister itemised by cost item and with staff costs split into civil service staff and Special Advisers.

Mr Jack McConnell: Estimated annual 

  cost

  



Staff Costs

  

£278,027

  



Overtime

  

£30,033

  



Travel and Subsistence

  

£17,953

  



Other Administrative Costs

  

£62,067

  



Total

  

£388,080

  



  The figure for staff costs is based on the annual salary costs for the staff currently in post and includes the staff costs associated with one Special Adviser. These are not shown separately to protect the privacy of that individual. The other figures are based on part-year figures. The figure for Other Administrative Costs relates to expenditure on office services and general administration.

Fuel Duty

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding adverse consequences for rural communities in Scotland, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, of any increase in excise duty or VAT on fuel in the budget in March 2000.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive keeps in regular contact with Treasury on a range of reserved issues which affect Scottish interests.

Health

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3920 by Susan Deacon on 9 February 2000, whether it will give a breakdown of the average number of available staffed beds, excluding beds in non-NHS locations, by bed types as detailed in Scottish Health Statistics Table M4.1 for each quarter from the period ended 31 March 1997 to the latest period available.

Susan Deacon: The number of NHS average available staffed beds by specialty group, excluding beds in non-NHS locations, for the quarters ending 31 March 1997 to 31 December 1999, the latest period for which information is centrally available, is given in the table.

  The downward trend in bed numbers in a number of specialties reflects the changing patterns of treatment and care in these areas.

  NHS in Scotland1 - Average Available Staffed Beds By Specialty Group

  Quarters Ending 31 March 1997 to 31 December 1999

  





March

  

June

  

September

  

December

  

March

  

June

  






19972


1997

  

1997

  

1997

  

1998

  

1998

  



Acute surgical

  

7,124

  

7,145

  

6,978

  

6,871

  

6,813

  

6,836

  



Acute medical

  

7,008

  

6,759

  

6,554

  

6,634

  

6,946

  

6,731

  



Dental

  

 

  72

  

 

  71

  

 

  69

  

 

  68

  

68

  

 

  69

  



GP Other 

  than Obstetrics

  

1,176

  

1,164

  

1,169

  

1,163

  

1,161

  

1,135

  



Obstetrics

  

1,399

  

1,385

  

1,361

  

1,327

  

1,345

  

1,308

  



Geriatric 

  assessment3


3,626

  

3,663

  

3,643

  

3,714

  

3,809

  

3,676

  



Geriatric 

  long stay3


5,243

  

5,096

  

4,975

  

4,855

  

4,766

  

4,603

  



Psychiatric

  

8,981

  

8,929

  

8,769

  

8,657

  

8,524

  

8,455

  



Learning 

  disabilities

  

2,970

  

2,873

  

2,841

  

2,823

  

2,789

  

2,672

  



Other specialties

  

 

  356

  

 

  347

  

 

  354

  

 

  343

  

317

  

 

  319

  



All specialties

  

37,954

  

37,433

  

36,714

  

36,455

  

36,537

  

35,804

  



  





September

  

December

  

March

  

June

  

September

  

December

  






1998

  

1998

  

1999

  

1999p


1999p


1999p




Acute surgical

  

6,809

  

6,771

  

6,661

  

6,686

  

6,580

  

6,406

  



Acute medical

  

6,514

  

6,620

  

6,970

  

6,672

  

6,513

  

6,666

  



Dental

  

 

  76

  

 

  70

  

 

  70

  

 

  68

  

 

  70

  

 

  67

  



GP Other 

  than Obstetrics

  

1,164

  

1,192

  

1,223

  

1,198

  

1,191

  

1,225

  



Obstetrics

  

1,259

  

1,253

  

1,248

  

1,236

  

1,220

  

1,213

  



Geriatric 

  assessment3


3,594

  

3,580

  

3,686

  

3,646

  

3,566

  

3,618

  



Geriatric 

  long stay3


4,450

  

4,359

  

4,205

  

4,040

  

4,059

  

3,999

  



Psychiatric

  

8,376

  

8,121

  

8,053

  

7,876

  

7,768

  

7,596

  



Learning 

  disabilities

  

2,588

  

2,525

  

2,489

  

2,395

  

2,226

  

2,134

  



Other specialties

  

 

  333

  

 

  329

  

 

  339

  

 

  327

  

 

  315

  

 

  320

  



All specialties

  

35,163

  

34,821

  

34,943

  

34,144

  

33,508

  

33,244

  



  Source: ISD Scotland (Form ISD (S) 1).

  p Provisional.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes NHS beds in non-NHS locations (e.g. joint-user and contractual hospitals).

  2. For the quarter ending 31 March 1997, certain hospitals recorded data on an "old specialty" basis; for these hospitals, data recorded on the old basis has been "mapped-forward" to a "new specialty" basis. For a small number of these hospitals, allocation of data for certain "old specialties", to the specialty groups shown, has been based on returns submitted for the quarter ending 30 June 1997.

  3. "Geriatric Long Stay" comprises geriatric medicine beds in Long Stay Units for the Care of the Elderly; "Geriatric Assessment" comprises geriatric medicine beds in all other types of ward.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place for the early detection and prevention of osteoporosis.

Susan Deacon: Information on measures to detect osteoporosis is not held centrally.

  The Executive's continuing and active promotion of a healthier lifestyle, with improved diet, more exercise and no smoking, will contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis in addition to many other health benefits.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what current policy is on General Practitioner referrals to other health board areas.

Susan Deacon: General Practitioners operate under terms of service set out in the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. These terms of service require General Practitioners to refer patients as appropriate for services provided under the National Health Service. The general practice is for health boards and NHS Trusts to develop local protocols with their clinicians on the arrangements for authorising referrals in and out of the health board area.

Health Spending

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to bring spending on the NHS to a position of parity with the EU average expressed in terms of a percentage of Gross Domestic Product spent on health care.

Susan Deacon: As pledged in the Programme for Government,  the Scottish Executive will substantially increase NHS spending in real terms over the coming years. The actual increases will be determined in the context of the 2000 Spending Review.

Health Spending

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the total health spending to the current European average as a percentage of national income.

Susan Deacon: As pledged in the Programme for Government,  the Scottish Executive will substantially increase NHS spending in real terms over the coming years. The actual increases will be determined in the context of the 2000 Spending Review.

Knowledge Economy

Allan Wilson (Cunninghame North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what priorities have been identified by the Joint Ministerial Committee on the Knowledge Economy.

Donald Dewar: The Joint Ministerial Committee (Knowledge Economy) met for the first time on 11 February 2000. The Committee agreed that its terms of reference should be "To consider joint or co-ordinated actions by the UK Government and devolved administrations to optimise the benefits arising from the knowledge economy; and to exchange relevant information between administrations". The Committee agreed that there were a number of useful initiatives across the UK which could be co-ordinated and that there were others for which it would be helpful to exchange experience.

  The areas identified were: developing skills in the workplace to harness new IT and communications technologies, clusters policy, the interlink between planning and telecommunications regulations, and the promotion of electronic government.

Kosovan Evacuees and Asylum Seekers

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of (a) the expenditure incurred to date and (b) the likely expenditure to be incurred by each local authority in the current financial year in relation to (i) Kosovan evacuees; (ii) adult asylum seekers; (iii) children of asylum seekers and (iv) unaccompanied children seeking asylum.

Iain Gray: Claims submitted by local authorities for the full financial year 1999-2000 are as follows:

  


Kosovan 

  Evacuees

  



Local Authority

  

Amount 

  of Claim (£)

  



East Lothian

  

319,372

  



Glasgow

  

1,443,714

  



Renfrewshire

  

536,643

  



South Ayrshire

  

9,084

  



West Lothian

  

22,618

  



Total

  

2,331,431

  



  


Asylum 

  Seekers

  



Local Authority

  

Amount 

  of Claim (£)

  



Aberdeen 

  City

  

85,674

  



Aberdeenshire

  

11,476

  



Argyll & 

  Bute

  

5,775

  



Dumfries 

  & Galloway

  

6,817

  



Dundee City

  

14,468

  



East Ayrshire

  

1,852

  



East Dunbartonshire

  

250

  



East Renfrewshire

  

16,851

  



Edinburgh 

  City

  

£1,530,757

  



Fife

  

25,989

  



Glasgow 

  City

  

£1,615,734

  



Highland

  

6,963

  



Midlothian

  

4,429

  



North Lanarkshire

  

35,825

  



Renfrewshire

  

13,955

  



South Ayrshire

  

1,995

  



South Lanarkshire

  

11,586

  



Stirling

  

14,863

  



West Dunbartonshire

  

1,020

  



West Lothian

  

7,285

  



Total

  

3,413,564

  



  Expenditure on asylum seekers is not identified separately between adult asylum seekers, children of asylum seekers, and unaccompanied children seeking asylum.

Landfill

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why East Lothian Council did not receive a copy of its consultation paper on the Landfill Directive; what checks were made to ensure that all local authorities had received the consultation papers; which local authorities requested a time extension to enable them to respond to the consultation paper, and which local authorities were given such an extension.

Sarah Boyack: A copy of a consultation paper on instruments to implement the targets in the Landfill Directive was sent to the chief executive of each Scottish local authority on 17 November 1999, including East Lothian Council. The council has now responded and its comments are being analysed along with others received. The City of Edinburgh Council requested an extension to the original deadline. Its response has also now been received.

Landfill

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction there has been in the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill sites in each year since 1995, broken down by local authority.

Sarah Boyack: The proportion of biodegradable material in wastes going to landfill varies according to the source and the time of year. The information requested is not available for all local authorities, although some authorities have carried out sampling exercises. I intend shortly to publish a report of recent research commissioned jointly by the Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to collect waste management data for 1997 and 1998. This will include a summary of the sampling information provided by local authorities.

Lingerbay Inquiry

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail for each year since 1995 (a) the costs of the Lingerbay Inquiry, (b) the number of its staff engaged in the consideration of the report and (c) the associated staff costs.

Sarah Boyack: The costs, up to April 1999, of the Reporter and support staff costs, hire of inquiry venue, travel and subsistence and advertisement of the inquiry arrangements were £162,800. The annual costs are set out below. It is not possible, however, to separate the number of staff engaged in the consideration of the report and their costs from general departmental running costs.

  


1994-June 

  1995 (end of public local inquiry)

  

£75,300

  



July-December 

  1995

  

£10,000

  



1996

  

£20,000

  



1997

  

£32,000

  



1998

  

£20,000

  



1999

  

£ 

  5,500

Lone Parents

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how valuable it considers the role of Gingerbread Scotland to be in relation to lone parents and what plans it has to ensure its survival by grant assistance or other funding.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-4845

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the cost of implementing the procedure set out in section 2 of the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill in relation to (a) the proposed Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and (b) the proposed Cairngorms National Park.

Sarah Boyack: The procedure set out in section 2 will include many variables. These include the Reporter’s time, local authority input, costs of a PLI, if necessary, and publication of the report by Scottish Ministers amongst others. Our best estimates are that this type of expenditure, for both areas, will be in the region of £100,000.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, before declaring any area a National Park, it will consult the people resident within that area by holding a local referendum to ascertain whether they agree to their area being so designated and whether it will hold such a referendum once passage of the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill is complete and any secondary legislation has been published.

Sarah Boyack: The draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill does not provide for the holding of a referendum. It provides for the involvement of local communities in considering the detailed arrangements for a National Park. The consultation on the Bill ended on 3 March, and comments received are currently being considered.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the cost of (a) holding a local referendum and (b) holding a local inquiry in (i) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and (ii) the Cairngorms and whether a local inquiry is more or less democratic than a referendum.

Sarah Boyack: The cost of (a) and (b) would depend on the nature and extent of the referendum or inquiry. The purposes of each would be different: the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill does not provide for the holding of a referendum.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will insert a provision in the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill to the effect that the members of the proposed National Parks Authority shall be elected locally and directly by the residents rather than being appointed or nominated.

Sarah Boyack: We are reviewing all points raised in respect of the consultation exercise recently carried out on the draft National Parks Bill. The consultation period ended on 3 March 2000 and all points will be considered prior to the Bill being introduced to Parliament. The Bill, as currently drafted, requires members to have knowledge or experience relevant to the functions of the National Park authority or the National Park, but does not require direct elections.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has explained to the residents of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and the Cairngorms the "Sandford Principle", as referred to in section 8 of the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill; whether conservation will take precedence over the social and economic needs of those residents where there is a conflict; whether there has been any reference or explanation of this matter in any of its press releases on National Parks and how many press releases it has issued on National Parks since 2 July 1999.

Sarah Boyack: The Sandford Principle is explained in the explanatory notes printed opposite the draft bill. Section 8(5) of the draft bill provides that where a National Park Authority considers there is a conflict between the first aim and the others, the first aim (conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage of the area) should be given greater weight. There have been two press releases on National Parks from the Scottish Executive since 2 July. They do not explicitly cover the Sandford Principle.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed "management agreements" described in section 13 of the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill will include payments additional to those already being paid and, if so, by how much per annum in (a) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and (b) the Cairngorms and whether such payments will accrue to (a) tenants or (b) owners.

Sarah Boyack: It will be for National Park authorities to decide with whom they wish to enter into management agreements, and what financial arrangements these will include.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed National Parks will be funded by grants and, if so, what its estimate is of the annual grant (in current cash terms) for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms in the first five years of operation.

Sarah Boyack: National Parks will be funded by grants from central government.

  Scottish Natural Heritage’s advice to government on National Parks, published in 1999, contained estimates of costs (in current terms) of national parks in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms. We will consider the levels of grant necessary in the context of the Executive’s spending plans for the period in question.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed National Parks will require to rely on loans, in whole or in part, for their finance and, if so, by what means the National Parks will raise revenue.

Sarah Boyack: National Park authorities will receive their core funding from central government. The draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill provides for the possibility of National Park authorities seeking loans, if necessary. National Park authorities will be able to raise additional money through other sources such as Lottery Funds, European Union funding and commercial activity.

National Parks

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why members of the National Parks Authority will be appointed by it rather than elected by local residents.

Sarah Boyack: Members of National Park Authorities will need to reflect a wide range of interests. The draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill provides for an important role for local authorities in determining the membership of National Park authorities. All members will be required to have knowledge or experience relevant to the functions of the National Park authority or the National Park.

Planning

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what response the National Roads Directorate has given to South Ayrshire Council in connection with the current planning application to develop housing at Coodham Estate, Symington, how this response differs from that given by the Scottish Office National Roads Directorate in 1998 to Planning Application 98/01223, and what the reasons are for any modification in the current consultation response.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive Road Network Management and Maintenance Division has recommended that a condition be attached to any consent given by South Ayrshire Council that no development shall take place at Coodham Estate until a scheme to close gaps in the central reserve of the A77 between south of the Kilmarnock Bypass and Dutch House Roundabout has been implemented.

  The previous response recommended a condition requiring the developer to improve the B751/A77 Bogend Toll Junction, together with the closure of existing accesses onto the A77 from Coodham Estate.

  The latest response was given in the context of my recent announcement of plans to complete the M77 to Fenwick and the desire to upgrade this section of the A77 to near-motorway standard.

Police

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish police officers have been seconded to the United Nations International Police in Kosovo; how long the tours of duty of any such secondees will last, and whether the salary and associated costs of any secondees are being recouped from Her Majesty's Government.

Mr Jim Wallace: There are presently no Scottish police officers on secondment to the United Nations International Police in Kosovo. One officer from Northern Constabulary was seconded to the Kosovo Police Training Group for a period of six months in 1999. Secondees normally undertake a six month tour of duty but there is provision for this to be extended. Salary and associated costs are reimbursed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Police

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the Foreign Office and the Home Office concerning the deployment of Scottish police officers with the United Nations International Police in Kosovo.

Mr Jim Wallace: None. Scottish police officers may volunteer to serve with the United Nations International Police in Kosovo under arrangements which involve both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office. Such service is contingent on the approval of the officer’s chief constable. Scottish Ministers give formal approval under the provisions of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

Prison Service

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisons employ a race relations liaison officer.

Mr Jim Wallace: As part of the current Scottish Prison Service race relations policy, every prison in Scotland has an Ethnic Minorities Liaison Officer who deals with race relations issues.

Public Debates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider holding public debates on the model of the recent "Business in the Chamber" event on topics such as health, education, older people and social and economic development in the Highlands and Islands, whether it will ensure that the participants in such debates are from a wide cross-section of interested parties as well as special interest groups, and whether it will investigate the possibility of using the Parliament chamber for such events.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive already has a range of consultative mechanisms in place but is willing to consider suitable mechanisms by which consultation processes can be supplemented or improved to generate the widest debate possible, involving a cross-section of interested parties. Subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, this could include the use of the Scottish Parliament chamber if considered appropriate.

Rail Network

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the rail network is electrified and when the last area of the network was electrified.

Sarah Boyack: 23.6% of the route network in Scotland is electrified. The last area of the network electrified was in the summer of 1999.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken or plans to introduce measures to encourage the oil and gas industry to exploit the commercial potential of renewable energy.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is committed to the   promotion of renewable energy. There may be some commercial opportunities for the oil and gas fabrication sectors from the expected growth in this activity. The likely scale of work that might become available has been discussed with the fabrication industry, but it will be for individual companies to pursue these opportunities.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has targets for offshore renewable power generation and, if so, how these targets compare with targets adopted by other countries in the European Union.

Sarah Boyack: It is not the Executive’s policy to set specific targets for any individual renewable energy technology, such as offshore wind.

Road Safety

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents since 1990; of these fatalities and serious injuries, how many were to pedestrians, and what action it is taking to reduce these fatalities and injuries.

Sarah Boyack: Information about the numbers of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents since 1990 is published in Table 2 of Road Accidents Scotland 1998 , copies of which are held in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

  The table below shows the total number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents since 1990, and the number of pedestrians.

  A GB strategy to reduce the number of road accident casualties in the period to 2010 was published on 1 March. Copies are held in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

  Road traffic accident casualties: fatal and serious injuries

  


Year

  

Fatal

  

Serious

  






Pedestrians

  

All

  

Pedestrians

  

All

  



1990

  

198

  

546

  

2,028

  

6,252

  



1991

  

173

  

491

  

1,759

  

5,638

  



1992

  

161

  

463

  

1,583

  

5,176

  



1993

  

127

  

399

  

1,323

  

4,454

  



1994

  

111

  

363

  

1,536

  

5,207

  



1995

  

121

  

409

  

1,466

  

4,930

  



1996

  

106

  

357

  

1,173

  

4,041

  



1997

  

87

  

377

  

1,124

  

4,047

  



1998

  

96

  

385

  

1,059

  

4,066

Road Safety

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has information regarding the number of road accidents involving foreign tourists travelling on the road network and to detail the accidents and their localities.

Sarah Boyack: The information requested is not at present held centrally. However, a recent change in the information collected on the STATS 19 accident report form means that in future years statistics will be available centrally on the number of injury road accidents involving vehicles whose drivers are known to be non-UK residents.

Road Safety

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why there is no mention of Safe Routes to School, Home Zones or road safety in its proposals for the Integrated Transport Bill.

Sarah Boyack: Responsibility for the provision of Safer Routes to School, Home Zones and Road Safety Schemes rests with the local authorities in respect of local roads. The local authorities already have powers under existing legislation to promote and implement schemes in all of these areas, and further legislation is not necessary.

  In the case of trunk roads, the Scottish Executive reviews annually accidents on such roads, and investigates clusters of accidents at particular locations and routes with high accident rates.

Rural Affairs

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the redistribution of resources under its modulation proposals will be ring fenced in order to ensure that monies raised in any one region will be reinvested within that region.

Ross Finnie: A final decision on the introduction of modulation will be announced in due course. This will include consideration of the needs of particular regions.

Sea Levels

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been undertaken of any effects of rising sea level on the coastline and whether any action to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels on Scotland’s coasts is planned and, if so, what financial allocation has been made to cover such actions.

Sarah Boyack: Future sea level rise and its implications for Scotland were covered in the Scottish Executive’s report Climate Change: Scottish Implications Scoping Study which I launched in December last year. In addition, Scottish Natural Heritage has commissioned further work on the implications of sea level rise for Scotland, the report on which they plan to publish later this year. The Executive have also just commissioned further research which includes consideration of the implications of sea level rise on coastal flooding which will inform its consideration on the effects of rising sea levels.

  More locally, in 1999 research was undertaken by SNH in liaison with the Forth Estuary Forum to investigate, among other things, the issue of sea level rise in the Firth of Forth. The forum is currently considering how best to take forward the findings of the study.

  National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 7: Planning and Flooding, published in 1995, provides guidance on the action which might be taken against the possibility of rising sea levels and storm tide surges affecting new developments.

  The primary responsibility for safeguarding land from encroachment by the sea, including coastal flooding, lies with the landowner. It is for them, together with local authorities and other interested parties, to consider any action that is required based on predictions of likely sea level rise. To date we are unaware of any strong drive by landowners or local authorities to address concerns about sea level rise and have not received any request for financial support in this context.

Solway Harvester

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government requesting that representatives of the Scottish fishing fleet be kept fully informed about the investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Board into the sinking of the Solway Harvester and, in particular, that copies of any details about submarine and other Royal Navy movements in the Irish Sea in the period surrounding the sinking and the video showing the damage to the vessel’s hull be made available to such representatives.

Mr John Home Robertson: SERAD officials are keeping in touch on the sinking with DETR officials, who have been advised of this interest.

  I understand MAIB are subject to regulations which govern the conduct of investigations and the release of information. However, the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mr Spellar) indicated in response to a recent question in the Westminster Parliament that the nearest Royal Navy vessel at the time of the loss was some 30 miles west of the Solway Harvester when the mayday was raised, and took part in the rescue operation; and that there were no submarines in the area.

  MAIB have advised that the full report of the investigation into the sinking of the Solway Harvester will be made publicly available. They have also made clear that they will consider favourably any requests to view the video showing damage to the hull of the vessel, after publication of the report.

Student Finance

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make "Lifelong Learning" available to people aged 50 and over by enabling them to have access to student loans.

Henry McLeish: Student loans are available to eligible students aged 50-54 who wish to retrain in order to enhance their employment prospects. Students aged over 54 are not eligible for loans because it is unlikely that they would be able to repay the loan, and many will have other resources on which to rely.

  From academic year 2000-01, eligible Scottish domiciled students in the over-50 age group will not have to pay tuition fees if they are studying in Scotland. The detail of the new scheme of support to be introduced in 2001-02 is under consideration and we will consult on our proposals.

  All eligible students, irrespective of age, can apply for financial help from the Access Funds. These funds are intended to offer help to those who face particular financial difficulties in pursuing their courses or whose access to higher education might be prevented by financial difficulties.

Tourism

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government and the Bank of England regarding the impact on the tourist industry in Scotland of (a) Her Majesty’s Government’s macro-economic policies and (b) the Bank of England’s policies on the value of the pound sterling against (i) the Euro, (ii) the US dollar, (iii) the Japanese Yen and (iv) other currencies; whether it will place copies of such representations in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and, if not, why not.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive liaises closely with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including economic conditions in Scotland.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers safeguarded routes for proposed roads when assessing draft structure plans; whether it is therefore in a position to know which routes are safeguarded in all approved structure plans and whether the relevant structure plans have safeguarded the proposed M8 Baillieston to Newhouse (both options), M80 Stepps to Haggs, M74 northern extension, A8000, A876 Kincardine Bridge, A68 Dalkeith bypass, A90 Balmedie to Tipperty and A985 Rosyth Bypass routes.

Sarah Boyack: We consider all aspects of structure plans submitted for approval. Structure plans may safeguard routes for roads, but are not ordnance survey based. In planning terms, safeguarding of the line of a route referred to in a structure plan can only be achieved through local plans. Approved local plans are not held centrally but can be obtained from each relevant council, or are available in libraries within the council area.

  The table below outlines the position within approved structure plans for each of the roads schemes listed:

  


M8 Baillieston 

  to Newhouse (both options)

  

Route not 

  safeguarded in the relevant structure plan

  



M80 Stepps 

  to Haggs

  

Route safeguarded 

  by policy TRANS13 in the Strathclyde Structure Plan

  



M74 Northern 

  Extension

  

Route safeguarded 

  by policy TRANS13 in the Strathclyde Structure Plan

  



A8000

  

Route not 

  safeguarded in the relevant structure plan

  



A876

  

Route not 

  safeguarded in the relevant structure plan

  



A68 Dalkeith 

  Bypass

  

Route not 

  safeguarded in the relevant structure plan

  



A90 Balmedie 

  to Tipperty

  

Route not 

  safeguarded in the relevant structure plan

  



A985 Rosyth 

  Bypass

  

Route not 

  safeguarded in the relevant structure plan

Transport

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a statutory requirement for local authorities to produce a local transport strategy.

Sarah Boyack: No. The Executive published its proposals for the Integrated Transport Bill on 10 February.

Transport

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Performance Audit Group reports to it and whether these reports will be made available to the Parliament.

Sarah Boyack: The Performance Audit Group reports regularly to the Road Network Management and Maintenance Division of the Scottish Executive on a range of quality, technical and financial matters. These commercially sensitive reports are not released.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to the multi-modal study on the M74 regarding the possible effects on employment in Glasgow of traffic congestion and to provide details of these representations.

Sarah Boyack: Responsibility for developing proposals for the M74 Northern Extension rests with the City of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4229 by Sarah Boyack on 18 February 2000, whether it will put its response to the formal UK consultation process to (a) the Parliament and (b) the Transport and the Environment Committee for consideration and whether it will make representations to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions to invite the Parliament to respond directly and separately from the Scottish Executive.

Sarah Boyack: Any representations made by the Scottish Executive to the UK Government in response to the proposed consultation which deal with reserved matters will invariably require to be made in confidence in the same way as representations received by the Scottish Executive would be treated. However, the Scottish Executive will ensure the Scottish Parliament is included in the consultation process.

Transport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to achieve its target of doubling cycle use from 1996 to 2002 and again by 2012.

Sarah Boyack: Since coming into office, the Scottish Executive has taken a number of actions related to cycling.

  In December last year I hosted the Scottish Cycling Conference. The aim of this high level conference was to address strategic issues related to the promotion and development of cycling as a mode of transport in Scotland. Each local authority and health board in Scotland was invited to send representatives.

  I shall shortly be meeting the Scottish Cycling Forum to discuss the outcome of the conference and to see how best its conclusions can be taken forward in Scotland.

  I intend to commission a programme of research to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the recent Scottish Cycle Challenge Initiative. The outcome of the research will help to inform policy on the need for other possible challenge schemes intended to encourage and promote cycling.

  Our recently published guidance on Local Transport Strategies makes clear that the Scottish Executive expects local authorities to build on existing efforts to increase the amount of cycling. In addition, local authorities are expected to produce a local cycling strategy as part of their overall transport strategies.

  Cycling and walking projects are eligible for consideration for support from the Public Transport Fund provided they meet the criteria for submitting applications.

  The Scottish Executive has recently published Cycling by Design which provides comprehensive guidance and advice on the design of all aspects of cycling infrastructure. This guidance has been made available to each local authority in Scotland.

Water Industry

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any discussions have taken place with East of Scotland Water Authority regarding the rescheduling of the Culross main drainage scheme and, if so, whether this project is likely to go ahead before the statutory deadline set by the European Union of the end of 2005.

Sarah Boyack: I understand that East of Scotland Water Authority intends to complete this project in advance of the statutory deadline of the end of 2005.

Water Industry

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the overall cost of establishing and maintaining a Water Industry Commissioner; what will be the salary of the Commissioner and which body will be responsible for paying these costs.

Sarah Boyack: The cost of recruiting the Water Industry Commissioner is estimated to have been £20,000 and was paid by the Scottish Executive. The cost of maintaining the Commissioner and his office from establishment on 1 November 1999 to 31 March 2000 is expected to be of the order of £450,000. We are currently considering the level of the Commissioner's budget for 2000-01. The water authorities meet the cost of the Commissioner and his office. The Commissioner's salary is currently £67,500 per annum.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer how often the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, or any of its members, has met Enric Miralles since 1 June 1999; where any such meetings were held and what was discussed at each of these meetings.

Sir David Steel: Enric Miralles and/or his partners in the joint venture company EMBT/RMJM have met the SPCB on 10 separate occasions since 1 June 1999. Nine took place in Edinburgh and a range of issues were discussed. One meeting took place in the parliamentary chambers in Brussels and The Hague to discuss chamber design and was attended by myself and two SPCB members. I also met Enric Miralles while on a private visit to Barcelona.

Parliament Artwork

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what is the current estimated budget for the purchase of artwork within the new Parliament building.

Sir David Steel: There is currently no specific budget for the purchase of artwork. Newspaper reports that we had cancelled a £700,000 arts programme are false. No such programme had been considered. Art is integral to the architecture and design of the Holyrood building and the provision of specific artworks will be considered by the SPCB at the appropriate stage.